New Zealand Well Represented In Australian Radio World

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 6, 18 August 1933, Page 3

New Zealand Well Represented In Australian Radio World

NEW ZEALAND is well represented on Australian radio programmes just now, and it* is gratifying to the Dominion to learn that at least five of the artists are billed as "headliners." Australia, with nearly half a million licensed radio sets, is able to infuse a variety into its programmes that only a large income will permit. Musical comedies and grand opera are featured almost weekly, and the amount of talent at the disposal of the Australian Broadcasting Commission makes the task of planning a programme a pleasant one.

NEW ZWALANDER of whom we have not heard much for some time past is Signora Yvonne Marotta, a light lyric soprano, who hails from Wanganui. Signora Marotta has been appearing, both as soloist and in duets with her husband, in the National Programmes from 2FC, 2NC, 3LO and 2CO, and is booked for a six months’ engagement to tour the stations of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, Signora Marotta will be remembered by many New Zealanders as Miss Eva Webb-Jones, daughter of the editor of the ‘Wanganui Chronicle." Both she and her husband were heard in recitals

from 2YA, some two or three years ago. The Signora met her husband during che second last Grand Opera season, announcing her engagement simultaneously with that of the charming Toti dal Monte and de Muro Lomanto. Soon after their marriage Signora Marotta left for Italy, where the latter studied in Milan under one of the greatest dramatic sopranos in Italy-Tina Poli Randacci. She has a repertoire of eight operas. preferring the romantic role of "Mimi" in "Lo Boheme" (in which she is featured alone), Madame Winnie Fraser, who is a native of Dunedin, has also signed a contract with the Australian Broadcasting Commission and made her first appearance before the microphone in Australia. from 2FO on July 27, when she was broadcast over the national network. Madame Fraser’s contract vrovides for broadcasts in Sydney, and she will probably sing in Brisbane and Melbourne studios. Madame Winnie Fraser displayed..extraordinary yocal ability

when in her ’teens and made success: ful appearances at many concerts, Sone of which were church functions orgua.!> ised by her father, a Presbyterian min ister. Going to London a few years ago, Madame Fraser studied with the famous conductor. Sir Henry Wood, who was a meticuious tutor in interpretation of musical works and the building up of her repertoire of songs. When a further course of study was decided upon she left England for Rome, where she spent about a year concentrating on operatic work under the direction of Signor Cortogni. one of the leading masters.

Although not quite in the same class as the two artists referred to above, Miss Joan Laird, formerly Auntie Joan of 2ZW, is proving highly popular with Australian listening audiences. Miss Laird has an’ international broadcast and musical reputation. Whilst in [ngland, which she visited for the purpose of extending her-vocal training at the hands of experts, she was selected as a member of the B.B.O. National Chorus, described by the London Times as "the finest amateur choir in BEngland." This choir performed under the conductorship of such celebrities as Sir Henry Wood and Sir Thomas Beecham. In addition to successes in broadcasting and. on the concert platform, Miss Laird has had wide experience in radio work. On her return to N.Z. she took up radio announcing, and as "Auntie Joan" was the conductress of some of the most popular ehildren’s sessions heard on the Dominion stations. Miss Laird has been singing from the Sydney stations and made her Victorian radio debut from 38AR on July 20, in solo’ items during the community singing session from the Auditorium, Two male performers who claim New Zealand as the land from which they drew their infant nurture. and who are being prominently featured in Australian programmes are Mr. Hamilton Dickson and Mr. Ernest McKinley. Mr. Dickson hails from Christchurch. where his father, "Alf" Dickson, is wellknown in journalistic and sporting circles. From an early age he showed a marked aptitude for music and commenced an intensive study of the pianoforte at an early age. Subsequently he became interested in the ’cello and by intensive study under Mr: Francis Bate, became a highly skilled exponent of this instrument. . Mr. Dickson played bc ore the late Jean Gerardy, probably the greatest ’cellist of his time, and the great master expressed the opinion tha! Mr. Dickson would ~ far in the musi eal world. y He is an all-round musician. Among his own compositions are two oper: ettas, both of which he produced in Christchurch, assisted by his sister,

who acted as stage manager and ballet mistress. His ambition is to become a conductor. He comes from an old New Zealand family. His maternal grandparents were original pioneers in the South Island, arriving in one of the first four ships to reach Lyttelton. Mr. Ernest McKinley, who is a frequent performer from 2FC, also hails from New Zealand, where he received his training. He travelled with Branscombe’s Glee Singers throughout Australia, and was later attracted to London, where he was one of the most popular artists at the Wembley Exhibition in London. During 1932 he sang

at two garden parties at Buckingham Palace, making his seventh engagement there. Mr. McKinley toured the YA stations at the beginning of this year under engagement to. the Broadcasting Board. His gramophone recordings of Maori songs have made his name known in practically.every. part of the world.